Abstract : Requirements engineering typically assumes that it is possible to specify a process that will use software, and furthermore that people who use the software will follow the process that is specified. There are many situations when that is only partially correct, such as situations where people work around password schemes in order to avoid logging in and logging out repeatedly,

Research on workarounds found hundreds of examples that led to a general model of how workarounds occur. That led to ideas related to a "workaround design system" that might be incorporated into requirements engineering with the goal of anticipating likely workarounds and evaluating whether those workarounds would probably be beneficial or detrimental. The next step along that path is explicit recognition that noncompliance to process specifications may be beneficial in some situations just as compliance to specifications may be detrimental in some situations.

Title : Relationship between work system approach and digital innovation

Abstract : The work system approach is a lens for understanding systems in organizations as operational systems through which people produce product/services for customers of the work system. This approach to understanding systems was developed to help business people communicate more effectively with IT professionals and consultants. It has been used for around 15 years by MBA and Executive MBA students whose task was to do an analysis in order to recommend improvements to systems in their own organizations that had a problem or opportunity. It has also been used in research.

Much digital innovation is about using digital means to create or improve work systems. That is why understanding work systems is essential for understanding digital innovation related to the operation of processes in organizations. Consulting companies frequently talk about digital innovation and digital transformation. Implementing those ideas in real situations requires understanding of how the innovations affect work systems.

Title : Soft and Stretchable Transducers for Robotics and Energy Harvesting Applications

Seminar by : Dr. Karali Patra,,

Department of MME, IIT Patna

Venue : Date: 22nd of February 2017 (Wednesday). Time and venue will be announce soon.

Abstract: This talk begins with the basics of stretchable transducers. Dielectric elastomers will be mainly considered for this discussion on stretchable transducers. Dielectric elastomers consist of a soft dielectric membrane, sandwiched between compliant conductors. The soft and compliant nature of this assembly allows dielectric elastomers to be easily deformed, thereby functioning as a deformable capacitor under an electric field. Electric stress from an electric field would thus be large enough to mechanically deform the material significantly, allowing it to function as an actuator. Actuator prototypes for soft robotics will also be discussed in this talk.

Apart from this discussion, Professor Patra will also discuss the current state of Mechatronics and Robotics and the facility available in his lab at IIT Patna. Students may interact with the Professor to discuss about any possibilities of project and in internship.

Brief Biography :

Dr. Karali Patra is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Patna India. He is an alumni of IIT Guwahati and IIT Kharagpur at his Masters and Doctorate level respectively. He has post doctoral experience at Robotics Research Center of at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. His current research interests are smart materials based actuators and energy harvesting systems and modeling and analysis of micromachining processes for difficult to machine materials and smart materials. He has been awarded national and international research projects on micromachining and smart materials of total project value of more than rupees one crore, so far. He has collaborated with eminent researchers from Canada, UK, Germany, Hungary, Russia and Singapore through various exchange programmes and joint projects. His research has resulted in more than 70 publications and 2 patents.